Articles examing the policies that shape drug addiction in our country.
Most people have heard of fentanyl. Nitazenes are what comes after. A class of synthetic opioids developed in the late 1950s and never approved for medical use, nitazenes began appearing in the illicit drug supply in 2019 and have been proliferating since. Some analogs are estimated to be 500 to 1,000 times more potent than […]
In March 2026, the DEA placed bromazolam under emergency Schedule I classification, giving it the same federal legal status as heroin. That action was years in the making. Bromazolam had quietly become the dominant designer benzodiazepine in the illicit drug supply, replacing earlier compounds after regulators banned them and turning up in counterfeit pills, fentanyl-laced […]
For years, getting a buprenorphine prescription required an in-person visit with a licensed prescriber before treatment could begin. For many people with opioid use disorder, that single requirement was an insurmountable barrier. Transportation, work schedules, childcare, geography, stigma, and fear of judgment all kept people away from a medication that the evidence shows reduces opioid […]
If you have seen a product called Tianaa, Zaza, Neptune's Fix, or TD Red at a gas station or smoke shop, you may not have known what you were looking at. These products contain tianeptine, a substance the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved for any medical use. They are sold as "dietary […]
Table of Contents Introduction In our journey through life, the paths we take are as varied and complex as the reasons behind our choices. Among these, the decision to use drugs stands out as a particularly intricate issue, fraught with emotional, societal, and biological underpinnings. At Struggling With Addiction, we recognize the multifaceted nature of […]
There’s a massive gap between the number of people who need addiction treatment in the United States and those who actually get it. According to the 2021 NSDUH report, 46.3 million people 12 and older met the applicable DSM-5 criteria for having an addiction in the past year. Yet, only 6% got help at a specialty facility. […]
The struggle to overcome addiction and break free from its grasp is an arduous journey, full of challenges and setbacks. And for those who’ve experienced incarceration due to substance-related offenses, this struggle is further compounded by the risk of recidivism. A comprehensive addiction treatment program is a great tool to assist in reducing recidivism. Recidivism, […]
Drug testing has become a standard practice for many employers. Most of them perform drug screenings to ensure workplace safety, maintain a drug-free workplace, and, in some cases, comply with legal requirements. While a drug screen can be an essential tool for employers to maintain workplace safety and productivity, it can also be a barrier for those […]
Tranq, an animal sedative, is spreading through the United States illicit drug supply and is thought to be responsible for the surge in overdose cases. The drug is now posing a new threat in the country's ongoing battle against drug overdoses. Tranq is appearing more frequently in synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl, causing deaths and severe side effects. Although most […]
Needle exchange programs (NEPs) or syringe services programs (SSPs) are public health initiatives that provide clean needles and other injection equipment to people who inject drugs. They aim to reduce the transmission of blood-borne infections, such as HIV and hepatitis C, among drug users. NEPs also often offer other health services, such as: How […]
